Inside the pitch-black temple, a man in black knelt before the deity’s statue while a gray-haired youth leaned against it, expression calm and detached.
“You summoned me, Holy Heir?” the black-clad man asked respectfully, posture devout.
“How goes the investigation on that Vampire Princess?” the gray-haired Holy Heir inquired.
“Reporting to the Holy Heir—new developments,” the man replied, producing an envelope and handing it over with reverence.
The Holy Heir opened it, withdrew several photos and a dossier, and examined them closely.
The first showed Su Yue and Chen Yan confronting the Moonlit Duo at the Paranormal Bureau (surveillance still). The second: Su Yue buying scallion pancakes. The third: ink traces and talisman packaging left in an alley. The fourth: Su Yue and Chen Yan dining at Tian Shang Ren Jian. The fifth: Su Yue sheltering in Chen Yan’s arms at the Enforcement Squad.
The dossier held profiles of those pictured, plus conjectures.
“Excellent, Black Blade. Well done,” the Holy Heir murmured after reviewing everything, a faint smile touching his lips.
“Thank you for your praise, Holy Heir. This subordinate merely fulfilled his duty.”
Black Blade’s heart leapt. The Holy Heir rarely smiled—this confirmed his deep interest in the Vampire Princess.
“I never imagined those unique talismans were crafted by a mere First Rank Vampire Princess,” the Holy Heir mused, hands clasped behind his back as he paced before the statue.
“Whose disciple could she be? A Grand Archmage’s? Impossible. No living archmage would take in a Bloodkin…”
“My lord, this subordinate has a thought—if I may speak,” Black Blade ventured cautiously, seeing the Holy Heir deep in thought.
“Speak freely.”
“Yes. Regardless of where she learned her craft, she remains only First Rank. We could capture her and turn her skills to our purpose.”
“Ample talismans would greatly increase our plan’s success rate.”
“Hmm. Reasonable. But abducting her in the city center—right beside a Fifth Rank hunter? Too conspicuous. Our past operations stayed within the suburbs,” the Holy Heir mused after a pause.
“Holy Heir, have you forgotten this subordinate’s abilities? Those two Paranormal Bureau agents hold a grudge against this Su Yue. Isn’t that the perfect leverage?” Black Blade said with a sinister smile.
“Then handle it.”
Sensing Black Blade already had a plan, the Holy Heir gave a nod.
“Yes. This subordinate will spare no effort.”
...
Nancheng Night Market.
The Moonlit Duo wandered the bustling snack street, fresh off shift and still simmering from their earlier clash with Chen Yan and Su Yue. A barbecue stall seemed the cure for frayed nerves.
They chose a quiet corner at a less crowded stall, ordered randomly, and cracked open two bottles of baijiu. Brothers clinked glasses and drained them in one go.
“Brother… are we just letting today go?” the younger brother muttered after swallowing his drink, resentment bubbling up again.
“What choice do we have? We checked everything—procedures were flawless. Even the transfer timing was explained by Director Bai of the Hunter Guild himself: he fronted the payment. What’s left to investigate?” The elder brother sighed, frustration clear but tempered by reason.
“I know… but I *feel* that Vampire Princess is hiding something.”
“My dear younger brother, I feel it too. But suspicion alone won’t convict her.”
“If only we could snatch her for questioning…” the younger brother whispered.
“Shh! That’s illegal,” the elder hushed him, flashing a silencing gesture and scanning the surroundings warily.
Silence fell. The waiter delivered their skewers, then fled, unnerved by the thick tension.
Unseen in shadow, a dark figure lurked—only eyes gleaming in the dark.
Suddenly, the eyes vanished. A wisp of near-invisible dark mist blended with greasy night-market smoke, drifting soundlessly onto the duo.
Their gazes glazed for a heartbeat, then cleared—but a heavier, colder tension now clung to their table.
“Do it?” the younger brother mouthed silently.
“Do it.”
Beneath the tranquil night, malice against Su Yue had silently coalesced.
...
“Apologies for summoning you so late, Vice President,” a Guild hunter said respectfully.
“No trouble. I skipped work today anyway—to bail Su Yue out,” Chen Yan said with a dismissive wave.
“The meeting’s starting soon…”
“I know.”
Chen Yan pushed open the conference room door, strode to the head seat. In the Guild Master’s absence, he commanded the Hunter Guild.
Several attendees nodded in greeting.
A white flash lit the projector—meeting commenced.
An elder rose, surveyed the room, and spoke slowly: “You know me. No pleasantries. Yesterday’s investigation into those thugs began openly. Instead of retreating, they ambushed an Aether-laden truck today.”
“If we knew it’d be attacked, why ship Aether in?” someone asked.
“They moved too fast. We halted shipments to Nancheng yesterday—but that truck was already en route,” the elder shook his head.
“That was the last. No more Aether enters Nancheng from today.”
“Our task: track the thugs, uncover their motive, and recover the stolen Aether.”
...
“Boss, why does he *always* schedule midnight meetings and drone on about trivialities? A text would’ve taken two minutes—he talked for two *hours*,” Blondie grumbled, slouched in the Guild cafeteria chair.
“Maybe they think it’s cooler,” Chen Yan quipped—a rare joke.
“Tch. When will these old fogeys retire? Always messing with us… Wait, Boss—you’re grabbing beef offal again for the cat?” Blondie watched Chen Yan accept a massive takeout box, tone weary.
“She likes it.”
“Four servings?! Do you keep a little tiger at home?”
“She eats a lot. And I need breakfast.”
“So you’ve taken her home?”
“Almost,” Chen Yan replied after a pause.
“Then… can I come pet her at your place later?”
“Once she’s settled, I’ll bring her to the Guild.”
...
